Campaigners opposed to the building of a QPR training ground on green space in Ealing have said they will fight on after the High Court said the plans were legal.

The planning application for the facility on the 60-acre site in Warren Farm was approved in September 2015, but was criticised by campaigners who launched a judicial review.

At a hearing on Thursday (March 9) the High Court found Ealing Council was justified in approving the application.

Malcolm Waller, from the Save Warren Farm Campaign, said: “The battle is not over yet.

"Along with many people who know the facts about this planning application, we are hugely disappointed with the decision.

"We have a vision where all of the land can be retained for community sports, recreation and leisure with sensible realistic investment by the council and partners, without having to lease away the land to a privately-owned organisation at a peppercorn rent.”

Hanwell Community Forum had opposed the training facility in Warren Farm

The new facility will include two floors and a basement, with a huge land levelling operation which will involve 180,000 cubic metres of infill.

Campaigners are concerned about the public access to the open land, which they fear will be lost.

During the judicial review, representatives of the campaigners argued Ealing councillors were misled by a planning officers report, but these claims were rejected by Mr Justice Dove.

Read More

Solicitor from Richard Buxton Environmental and Public Law, Kristina Kenworthy, representing the group, said: “Development of Metropolitan Open Land, which this area is, requires the most stringent justification, and in our view Ealing came nowhere near to deciding the matter in favour of QPR in the correct way.

Hanwell Community Forum's claims the councillors had been misled was rejected

“The courts so far may not have agreed, but it is a really important issue for the protection against inappropriate development throughout the country, which has not been directly addressed, so the case may well go further.”

Read More

The story so far for Warren Farm

The campaigners said they are now considering making an application to the Court of Appeal to take their case higher.

Speaking after the decision on Thursday, council leader Julian Bell said: “We are pleased with the judicial review decision and, with QPR set to invest millions of pounds into the community sports facilities, I'm confident we've secured the best deal for local people.

The future: Warren Farm as QPR hope to see it

“Once the site is up-and-running, QPR will implement a significant community sports development programme which focuses on encouraging local people, particularly young women, older people and people with disabilities, to get involved in sport.

“The club will also be responsible for on-going maintenance of the new facilities, with no cost to taxpayers or the council.”